World Series parade helps Larkspur ferry set record

Fans board the 9:15 ferry on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in Larkspur, Calif. Fans flocked to San Francisco to help the Giants celebrate their World Series win. The parade started at the foot of Market St. and went to City Hall.
(IJ photo/Frankie Frost)
Frankie Frost

The San Francisco Giants World Series parade in San Francisco on Wednesday helped smash Larkspur Ferry patronage records, officials said.

There were 14,099 people who rode the Larkspur-to-San Francisco boats, breaking the one-day record of 13,340 set on July 21, 2006. That's when people were allowed to ride the ferry for free, part of a Spare the Air Day promotion in the Bay Area designed to get people out of their cars.

"The boats were inundated with Giants fans," said Mary Currie, ferry spokeswoman. "The lines were crazy. They are dedicated, diehard fans."

The Giants parade after the team's first World Series victory saw 12,823 Larkspur riders on Nov. 3, 2010.

Oliver Kanner of Corte Madera was on a ferry for the Wednesday parade, helping set the record.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," the Corte Madera resident said. "Got to do it."

Other record days included Jan. 6, 1982, when 12,275 riders used the Larkspur Ferry as storms ravaged Highway 101 in Sausalito, making it hard to get into San Francisco. Another Spare the Air free day on June 23, 2006 brought 10,522 riders.

Typically, the Larkspur ferry sees about 5,000 riders on a weekday.

While the Larkspur ferry set a record Wednesday, the Sausalito ferry did not. It had 2,099 passengers during the day. On a typical weekday the service has 1,600 riders. Its record of 11,559 riders was set on the July 21, 2006 Spare the Air Day.